Falguni Nayar Biography, Net Worth, Husband, Family and Career

Introduction –

Born on 19 February, 1963; Falguni Sanjay Nayar is a notable entrepreneur and top-woman achiever in the banking industry. She pursued an MBA in Finance and her father was a prominent face in the business world at that time. At the start of her career, she worked as a management consultant at A.F. Ferguson & Co. After that, she worked in Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. for 18 years and left the company in 2012 as Managing Director. Now, she is the Chief Executive Officer of the eCommerce portal ‘Nykaa’ since 2012 and has a net worth of Rs. 1,200 crore, raising the standards of Indian beauty.

Early Life, Family and Career –

Falguni Nayar was born and brought up in Mumbai. Her father ran a small bearings company which was assisted by her mother. Raised up in a business family, entrepreneurship was in her blood. After completing her schooling, she took the admission in business school and started her career as a management consultant A.F. Ferguson & Co.

Falguni met a guy, Sanjay Nayar at business school and they both got married in May 1987. At that time, Sanjay was doing a job in finance. Now, he is the CEO of global investment firm KKR India.

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Falguni Nayar Biography –

Personal Information:

• Name
  – Falguni Sanjay Nayar
• Birth
  Day – 19 February 1963
• Age
  – 55
• Birth
  Place – Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Profession
  – Entrepreneur
• Zodiac
  sign/Sun sign – Aquarius
• Nationality
  – Indian
• Religion
  – Hinduism
• Food
  Habit – Non-Vegetarian
• Hobbies
  – Watching Television, Reading Books, Swimming
• Occupation
  – CEO of Nykaa
• Net
  Worth – Rs. 1,200 crore
• School
  – The New Era School
• College/University
  – University of Mumbai, IIM Ahmedabad
• Educational
  Qualifications – B.Com, Post-Graduate Diploma in Management
• Marital
  Status – Married
• Marriage
  Date – May 1987
• Spouse
  – Sanjay Nayar
• Children
  – Twins: Anchit Nayar and Adwaita Nayar
• Height
  – 5’3” (160 cm)
• Weight
  – 70 kg (155 lbs)
• Eye
  Color – Light Brown
• Hair
  Color – Black

Career Journey:

• A.F.
  Ferguson & Co – Worked as manager
• Kotak
  Mahindra Capital Co. – Worked as Managing Director for 18 years and left in
  2012  
• Nykaa
  – Founded in 2012

Awards and Honors:

• The
  Most Powerful Women in Business 2017 – Business Today
• Woman
  Ahead (2017) – Economic Times Startup Awards 2017

lesser known facts about Falguni Nayar

Here are some lesser known and interesting facts about Falguni Nayar, the founder and CEO of Nykaa:

• Late-Career Entrepreneurship: Falguni Nayar launched Nykaa in 2012 at the age of 50, after nearly two decades at the top of India’s investment banking industry. Few entrepreneurs start so late—her decision was considered bold and unconventional, especially in India’s ageist startup ecosystem.
• Personal Investment: She risked her own savings—reportedly about $2 million—to start Nykaa, rather than relying on outside investors in the initial stages.
• Family Involvement: Nykaa literally started as a family affair. Falguni’s daughter, Adwaita Nayar, is the CEO of Nykaa Fashion, while her son, Anchit Nayar, heads Nykaa’s beauty e-commerce. The company’s small founding team included relatives and three employees from her father’s bearings company.
• Inspired by Sephora: Her vision for Nykaa was partly inspired by a visit to a Sephora store in the US. She saw an opportunity to create a similar experience for Indian consumers, who often struggled to find authentic beauty products and advice in a fragmented retail market.
• Breaking Gender Barriers: Falguni Nayar became one of only two self-made female Indian billionaires, joining Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (of Biocon), and made history as the richest self-made Indian woman after Nykaa’s IPO.
• Nykaa’s Meaning: The company name “Nykaa” comes from the Sanskrit word “Nayaka,” meaning “one in the spotlight.” Falguni wanted to spotlight Indian women’s aspirations and confidence through beauty.
• Boardroom Pedigree: Before Nykaa, she served as a director or board member for major companies, including Tata Motors and Aviva Life Insurance.
• Award Winner: Falguni has received multiple top business awards, such as the Economic Times “Woman Ahead” Award (2017) and the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award (2021).
• Focus on Financial Discipline: Despite the startup hype, Falguni is known for her focus on profitability and conservative cash burn, bucking trends set by other Indian unicorns. Nykaa posted profits before and after its IPO—a rare feat among major Indian e-commerce startups.
• Humble Beginnings: Nykaa’s first office was a small space donated by her father, and at launch, it operated with only a handful of team members.
• Educational Excellence: She holds degrees from Sydenham College (Commerce) and IIM Ahmedabad, two of India’s most prestigious institutions, and credits her academic exposure to diverse strategies for her later success

Wrap Up –

Falguni Nayar is the founder of the multi-brand beauty retailer Nykaa. She is one of them who believe that with the right training, education and support; women can conquer any height. She was the former Managing Director at Kotak Mahindra Capital Company for over 18 years.

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